EFSA pesticide residue report confirms food safety

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released the 2007 Annual EU Pesticide Residues Monitoring Report. Findings indicate that 96 per cent of samples were compliant with the legal maximum residue levels (MRLs).

 "The report’s findings demonstrate, once again, the low level of residues in the food we eat, a performance that has been tracked consistently by these reports over the years.  This is another clear confirmation of the commitment of European agriculture to food safety,” said Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA).  “I stress that the key requirement for staying healthy is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.  Once again the report confirms that the risks residues might actually pose are far outweighed by the benefits of the affordable, balanced and healthy diet that pesticides help provide.  Remember that pesticides fight the plant diseases, insect infestations and fungus attacks that undermine our rich supply of safe, affordable, nutritious food.”

 It is common to misinterpret the meaning and purpose of MRLs. According to the EFSA report: “MRLs are frequently understood as being toxicological safety limits. This is incorrect. MRLs are established for 3 key reasons: to ensure that the residues on food do not pose an unacceptable risk for the health of consumers, to ensure that pesticides are used in accordance with the authorised uses, respecting the label instructions and to avoid trade barriers.”

As the report emphasizes, MRLs are set so far below levels that could possibly pose a risk to humans that safety is completely assured. The report states that “even an exceedance of an MRL, does not imply that this is a safety concern ...”

"Plant protection products undergo exhaustive government regulated testing to set strict standards for application so that their use presents no threat to human health.  Further, as a sector leader, our industry works well beyond mere compliance to ensure that pesticides are used correctly.  We help train farmers across Europe in the safe handling, application and disposal of pesticides. Safety is paramount at every stage.”

Schmider added: “The report’s findings bear out the consistency and excellence of the safety performance of European agriculture.”